Who's your pick? I made mine

Last week, we all just witnessed one of the craziest, if not the craziest trade deadline in recent years. A ton of movements made by different teams. This only goes to show that teams are looking forward to rebuild or get ready for a serious playoff push. Power is already shifting to the eastern conference with all the trades, which only means that it'll be much harder for the Celtics, Heat, Bulls to come out of the Eastern Conference. But it doesn't mean that there is lack of competition in the West. If anyone is forgetting, let me remind you that the San Antonio Spurs holds the best record in the league. Dallas has become efficient on defense and OKC got something to say with the addition of Kendrick Perkins. Oh, let's not get started with the two-time defending champions, the Lakers. With less than 25 games left, the playoff picture would be pretty much the same until april. So if the playoff started right now, who's your pick to come out in the East and West? I made mine.

The Eastern conference is very much stacked right now. The top four teams may have a sure shot in the second round regardless of positioning. Competition is lacking for the top four teams in the first round, yes I mean it, even if Stat and Melo are already in NYK. They may be one of the highest scoring duo but with MVP candidate D-Rose in the helm for the Bulls, it would be difficult for the Knicks to get past these guys. Oh, the Bulls play defense and the Knicks are sporadic in it. The second round would give the Bulls problems though, especially in the middle. They are facing D12 and the up-and-down Magic. The Magic have showed that they're a team who haven't found their identity yet. It has been up and down so far for this team this season. Howard is only the bright spot on this team which would be easier for Rose & company to dissect. If the Magic doesn't play good basketball for two halves, evidently showed in their 2 come from behind wins lately, it would be an early summer for them. The other half of the 2nd round is what interests me the most. The Super friends from South Beach will be facing the new look Celtics.
LeBron & D-Wade will surely be looking for redemption against the team that sent them packing last season, this time together. I've been very much skeptical with the trade of Kendrick Perkins. The Celtics were built on defense and Perkins was one of the reason why these Celtics were good on it. When they traded him for Green, it was like taking away a critical piece. I guess the C's were confident with the 2 O'neal's down low and also Kristic, who showed that Serbian's are tough with the infamous brawl in the Fiba World Championship. Maybe Danny Ainge was right when he said that he doesn't want to lose in the offseason seeing Perkins go without a clear substitute to fill his void. But if the trade was a pure gamble, I think the C's may be lucky enough. Perkins never suited in the 3 wins against the Heat and  they won't be facing the Magic which means no D12. The Celtics will make a run for the Heat's money and in the end the Heatles will be sent back to the beautiful beaches of Miami wondering what went wrong. Which leaves the Bulls & Celtics as the two teams buying for a seat in the NBA Finals. Doc Rivers against Tom Thiboedou. Rose versus Rondo. Remember two years ago when this teams balled for 7 games. This is going to be a heck of a match up. I'm not counting the Bulls out on this one. D-Rose is playing MVP basketball, they got Boozer and Noah down low which would be nightmare for KG and Big Baby. They play good defense too. But I still like the chances of the Celtics. Yes, you read it right, the Celtics will be back in the NBA Finals for the 2nd straight year, 3 times in 4 years. The Bulls may be young and athletic but nothing fuels a team more than a game less of being crowned champions. The Celtics were a game  close of being champions, had they not lost Perkins to injury, it would have been a different scenario. Plus, the C's are healthy. KG is playing good, Pierce is still Pierce, Allen is still clutch beyond the arc and do I need to mention their best player in Rajon Rondo.

The Western Conference has a little bit of flavor in their playoff picture. The question is can the two time defending champions make their fourth straight appearance in the finals and threepeat? Currently they are 3rd place in the conference and if it stays that way, they would be forced to play home court disadvantage in two or three series depending if they make it to the finals. The only series that they'll be playing with home court advantage is against the Hornets which is a no brainer for the end result. So the road to a threepeat would be very much difficult if they play a lot of road games in the playoffs. Especially when they have a potential 2nd round opponent in the San Antonio Spurs. Owner of the best record in the league, the Spurs have emerged as a championship team once again, having lost 11 games only so far. They got their own big three playing healthy and better in recent years. Plus the got youth in Blair, Neal, Hill, etc. This team is ready to wreak havoc in the playoffs and maybe in the finals too. Having to face the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round would be a walk in the park for this team. A dogfight against the Lakers would be anticipated and this would really be a good series. Guess what, the last team to dethrone the Lakers in their quest for a fourth straight finals appearance was the Spurs. So far this season, the Spurs have beaten L.A. twice, so they have their number. But I wouldn't count the Lakers yet, not Kobe. This team was built to win, and win now. Kobe is on his quest for his sixth title that would tie him with MJ. I'm sure he wants to give Phil his fourth 3peat if ever he leaves the game after this season. A lot can be said about this series, but I still like the defending champs to emerge in this round. I say in 6 or 7 games, L.A. would win even if they have to do it on the road. The Dallas Mavericks is the hottest team right now in the NBA. With the addition of Tyson Chandler, this team have already added a dimension lacking in years, Defense. This Mavs ain't no fluke. They are for real, beating top teams in both conferences. While they're 2st round opponent, the Blazers, have something to say to that, the Mavs are heading to the 2nd round in this one.

Facing a team that can impose problems, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Yes, KD, Westbrook, and Perkins are going to make life miserable for Nene and the Nuggets, as well as the Mavs. Moving forward, Nowitzki will be harrassed by Ibaka, Perkins down low which could make life miserable for him. Let's face it, Jason Kidd will be beaten at every aspect by Westbrook. What about KD35? Scoring champion period. As much as Mark Cuban will hate me for this, I'm putting my money on the Thunder. Which would give us an exciting Western Conference finals showdown between the Lakers and the Thunder. Remember last year? Well, expect more of it this year. The Thunder are poised to make it to the finals with the addition of Perkins. Good thing they won't see the Spurs because that's the only team not intimidated by Perkins. As for the Lakers, Bynum and Gasol crumbles in the presence of Perkins. They got also Ibaka the shot blocka, so I expect a fight underneath with these big men jocking for position. But that's all I can say about the Thunder. Westbrook will be a nightmare in the perimeter as usual but he can't take this team past the Lakers. Durant can but guess what, Ron Artest will always be under his skin and it's pretty much documented that Durant struggles when Artest is in his jersey. I still feel the Lakers will win because number 1 they got Kobe and number 2, they got home court advantage against the Thunder.

So for the 2nd straight year, the Lakers and the Celtics will face in the finals. The Rubbermatch. Ain't that a good story to build on? Kobe vs Shaq. The Celtics looking for revenge from last year's defeat. The Lakers looking for a 2nd three peat. Kobe chasing Jordan's 6th title. Shaq tying Kobe's 5. The Lakers tying the Celtics for most NBA titles. So much on the line but I ain't predicting who's gonna win, not just yet.

Postscripts to a Bloodbath

This is from someone by the name of Bang Lu Min who commented on the yahoo article. I got excited to post this that I accidentally closed the browser. You see, I've been waiting for some survivors to open up and apparently, one has posted his/her view on the comments. If you ask me, I think this is true. If you follow the situation, the comment is quite accurate. The slashing of the throat is also there. Postcripts To A BloodBath Mr. Mendoza was already upset even before he saw on television what the policemen did to his brother. The other tourists who remained inside the bus were complaining. Wei Ji Jiang wanted to go to the bathroom. Dao Chi Yu was hungry and the rest were just groaning and whining like they have forgotten that our lives rest in Mr. Mendoza's hands.

The hostage taker, as you know him was really nice. He treated us okay and even let the elders and the children leave the bus. He said your policemen treated him unfairly. He was a policeman too and was accused of doing something he had no knowledge of. But your government didn't listen so he used us to get everyone's attention. Things would have never turned for the worst if he didn't see how his family was dragged out of their house and taken into custody. He was watching the news all the time as we huddled around each other behind the bus. He shouted some words in your language then started shooting in the air. A girl about my age started screaming. Mr. Mendoza demanded her to stop but she didn't understand English. God, he had to slash her neck with a knife just to put her to rest. Her boyfriend who tried to hit him was shot in the head. Tension was rising.

You can see in his face how scared and confused he was. The bus driver ran away leaving him alone with strangers from a distant land. I can see him walking across the aisle, sometimes pointing his machine gun to one of the tourists. But he tried his best not to hurt us, especially those who really cooperate. I guess its in your nature not to inflict pain on others unless it was necessary. I remember him saying that he will free us before sundown and implored us to forget everything when we return home. But his words don't matter now. The policemen were trying to force their way in, while we all lied down to shield ourselves from bullets. Mister Mendoza blindly shoots at his enemies which I think kept them from rescuing us. I hear sobs under the chairs. Some were even shouting the names of their loved ones even when the air merely eat their words. Kevin Tang tried to escape when the glass door was was shattered, but one shot and he slumped on the floor with blood gushing from his mouth. Heavy rain pitter-pattered on the rooftop. In old Chinese saying, it means an end to a struggle. Finally, somebody was able to open the escape hatch at the back of the bus. Freedom. But I knew Mister Mendoza was still alive. I knew he was just waiting for a chance to strike back at his enemies. So I told those around me not to escape. Let the authorities come for us instead.

Then there was gunfire. He was firing at his enemies with a machine gun. Those who were at the escape hatch fled abandoning us once again. It's like a nightmare with no end and to wake up means a certain death. Then somebody from outside the bus threw a canister. It forced out a black smoke that is so painful to the eyes and putrid smelling to the nose. People started screaming. We cannot breathe. Some ran in front of the bus but Mister Mendoza warned them of stray bullets. It was too late. One was hit on the head, the other was hit on the shoulders. Bullets were now flying. Its like the authorities thought we were all dead. Mister Mendoza finally admits his mistake and said sorry to everyone, dead or alive. He then ran towards the front of the bus where he would meet his maker. As he passed by my chair with bullets whistling overhead, I clutched my hand on the velvet curtain and wrapped it around my face. All I could think of was to stay alive - for my child who is waiting for me back in Xinjang. I know I will survive, I will come home. 

-Bang Lu Min Survivor, Quirino Bloodbath

Clicking Pages (No longer just ink and paper, these 21st century books are now easily traded over the Web...)

All new. Every word on every line. Every font. Exact layout.

These are the promises made by an online seller on Facebook who is advertising electronic books, or e-books.

Technology is indeed growing as we speak. Things that are traditional are now being made virtually obsolete replaced by digital ones.

E-books are digital copies of books, usually in Portable Document Format (PDF), which allows the owner to view and read the book on his own computer, or any electronic devices that allow it.

YOUNG E-NTREPRENEUR

Kathleen Calvara, 15 years-old, is one of the young people who goes for e-books. She has a really huge e-book library, 1,800 e-books more or less, she says.

Kathleen is the person behind the BdEdz’s Önline E-book Shop, an e-book seller in Facebook, which sells copies of e-books at around R10 per title and are paid via E-Load, Pasaload, Paypal, or Gcash.

“I was getting bored during summer so I decided to put up this business rather than spend my time going out, wasting time and money,” Calvara says.

Calvara mostly buys her e-books from websites such as Amazon.com. She also trades occasionally with other e-book sellers on the Internet. These, in turn, are the e-books that she sells on her Facebook account.

Her online bookshop provides a wide selection of titles, among them the Harry Potter series, Twilight series, Anne Rice novels, etc. The e-books are sent to the customers via email, and for bulk orders, the e-books are burned into a CD and shipped through a courier.

Calvara has been an e-book reader for about two years. She tried them out of curiosity, surfing the Internet most of the time, until she came across a person who sells e-books on a shopping website. After trying it, she started regularly buying the digital books.

“E-books are way better than real books because not only do they save you money, they are very portable as you can carry hundreds of e-books in just one device,” she says.

DOMINATION!

Giordani “Dan” Gaffud, one of the founders of the Bookay-Ukay bookshop, thinks that e-books will dominate the book industry – but definitely not in the near future.

“Not that fast, not in the near future. A lot of people still love to read and treasure real books, a lot of people even love to collect hard-to-finds, first editions, and signed copies. But it will surely have its place in the industry soon,” he predicts.

Gaffud believes that it is a matter of a person’s perception as to which is better between real books and the digital ones. Both have their own unique identities and it will really depend on the person which he would prefer.

“As for me, I still prefer real books because I want to keep copies of the books I’ve read, maybe because of the book cover, or maybe because of its format. Also, if it was given to me by a friend, it has a sentimental value for me,’’ Gaffud adds.

Bookay-Ukay is a bookshop that promotes reading and makes the hobby more accessible to a lot of people by selling books at a lower price. But Gaffud says selling e-books in their shop is not at all impossible.

“We haven’t tried selling e-books but for me, there is no problem in doing so. We are not advocates of reading ‘only’ real books. Our shop promotes enjoyment in reading and we would love to see people reading or absorbing what’s inside of a book in any way possible,” he says.

E-books are cool, Gaffud adds, especially when one cannot find a copy of a rare book. “A Filipino may or may not prefer e-books. If one wants to read books, he may not necessarily put them in a shelf and have a collection, he may choose reading an e-book rather than buying a real one,” he states.

EYE-FRIENDLY

Most people are cold to the concept of e-books because of the fact that they have to be read on monitors of PCs or other electronic devices, sometimes straining the eyes. Gaffud, who occasionally gets e-books from the Internet, finds it difficult to read them.

“It’s quite hard for me to read on the LCD of a computer. After an hour or two, it already hurts the eye. E-books are good when you have e-book readers,” Dan shares.

Even Calvara experiences a hard time when reading these e-books.

“Actually, it does strain my eyes. I even got sick one time because of these e-books as I was sitting in front of the monitor, reading 24/7. But we just need to schedule our time and use protective screens for our PCs to avoid it,” Calvara advises.

Eye-straining or not, these e-books are certainly something worth watching out for in the book industry. They definitely give a new dimension to the usual reading experience. But people should be reminded that it is not the format that is important but the lessons that are unraveled on every flip, or on every click on the pages of the books.

“E-books, like real books, are just containers. What matters is the content,” Gaffud ends.

This is an article written by IVAN ANYAYAHAN. A writer for Manila Bulletin. This article, published today, features my cousin, KATHLEEN CALVARA. 

 For more on this, click here.

NBA Free Agent Slot Machine

The NBA Finals is doing good in the ratings. Well, who wouldn't tune in? It's the Boston Celtics vs the Los Angeles Lakers. Two of the most storied franchises in NBA History. These two teams have met in the finals 12 times and have combined for 32 championships. But besides all the hype that they're bringing, there is one story that have been headlining or upstaging the finals, FREE AGENCY. Yup, this July, NBA will be opening the biggest free agent market recently remembered. Big names like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh are headlining this class of free agents. ESPN analysts have been following this big names and here's what they think where they'd go. I call this putting the fun while spoiling it. Click here.

Why it's on the fourth finger....

Ever wondered why the fourth finger is considered the ring finger? I received this mail from my girlfriend (you read it right, I have one) on why the wedding ring is placed on the fourth finger. I don't know her motives but I just hope it ain't about tying the knot. It sure means game over for me.

Trend of Election in Pinas

It's just been three days after our country's first ever automated elections. It was just my second time to vote and I'm proud to say that I've been a part of the last manual and first automated elections. I'm not rushing things but the way the polls are going, it looks like the turn-out of this election is the same from the past. The trend still continues. No wonder why a lot call it very colorful. It's like elections here in the Philippines are based on certain factors. Elections here is more of a popularity contest.

A Candidate is likely to win if:

1. His/Her parents are past candidates, especially if they are faces of democracy in our country.

2. He is an Actor or Actress, especially the superstars back then.

3. He/She represents the poor. No wonder all candidates run their mouths about the poor.

4. He/She is a wife, husband, hubbies of a political figure.

5. He/She has lots of money. Money is very manipulative. I can attest to that, especially in local areas. Money is very vital in the campaign. It is a very effective way to blind a voter's choice.

I just hope that the next legislators would give an emphasis to education. With education, our countrymen could have jobs, knowledge, and more importantly, an educated person casts educated votes. If the political agenda remains the same, Sweet Jezus, after three years, the pattern of voting would still be the same and so is the continuous fall of our beloved Philippines.

The World's Famous Elbow

It's all over the news. It's on paper, circling all over the internet. Basketball analysts talk about it, Hell, they even made a twitter account about it. This is the next best thing since Slice bread. If you don't know what I'm talking about, I bet you're not a basketball fan. After the final buzzer sounded at  game two, the series between the Boston Celtics & the Cleveland Cavaliers was tied at 1-1. After a subpar game from the King,  the talk of the town was how's LBJ's elbow doing. I can't stop but wonder why are they giving a lot of emphasis on the injury. Why just they don't admit that LBJ was so tentative in Game 2. It sucks to hear all this buzz about the elbow because at this time of the year, everyone is playing banged up. After 82 regular season games, you can't expect to be fully healthy. Hell, they don't even give a damn if KG, Big Baby, Kobe, Sasha Vujacic is injured. But because it is LeBron, they put all the weight on the elbow injury for his subpar game. This is too much hype for an injury. Great players play though injuries, they shouldn't make it as an excuse. At this time of the year, injuries are ignored, instead of sulking. LBJ has got to play through it. He should show why he is the MVP of  2010. 

So far he torched the Celtics in the first quarter of Game 3. Scoring 21 points in the 1st quarter, outscoring the whole celtics team, who just made 17 points.